Who said veggies are only rich in vitamins? On the contrary, some of them are also rich in protein. Intriguing, right? Your body is only as good as what you feed it. Why Not get down to some serious reading and see what you’ve been missing out on? You’re probably wondering which vegetable is highest in protein. Well, read on to find out more.
Eat Your Lima Beans
Lima beans are the highest source of vegetable protein. The confusion comes in when you have to figure out whether lima beans are vegetables or legumes; however they are counted as veggies due to their rich fiber content. Lima beans contain Potassium and Folate which are typical of all vegetables. Another reason they are grouped as veggies is that they are vegetable seeds that sprout from the plant itself.
Health Benefits
Aside from the usual ‘rich in vitamins and minerals’, Lima beans do have a vast array of benefits.
- Good for weight loss. Losing weight doesn’t mean you have to starve yourself to achieve your goal. It simply means you have to cut down on what you feel is weighing you down.
- Better still, replace your usual snacks or drinks with something healthier but in smaller quantities. Lima beans are exactly what you’ve been looking for. With their high nutritional value, they help in bringing obesity and cardiovascular diseases under control.
- Helps in lowering cholesterol. Excessive cholesterol is harmful to your cardiovascular health.
- Improves your cerebral health. Your brain needs all the care it can get for effective functioning and development. What better option to effect this benefit than Lima beans? Not forgetting that your nervous system also stands to gain massively when you inculcate Lima beans into your diet.
- Controls your blood sugar. As you grow older, your blood sugar is not the same as it was when you were younger. Your general health rides on the stability of your blood sugar.
Including Lima beans in most of your diets is one natural way to keep your blood sugar stable.
Proceed with Caution
You have probably heard of the saying; ‘an excess of something becomes poisonous’. In this case, lima beans are not to be consumed excessively as they tend to cause too much gas.
Top nutritionists advise on the importance of consuming them in moderation. 3 cups are enough to take you through a whole week and help you maintain your plant protein intake.
While you’re at it, avoid the processed and artificial spices as they only interfere with the original flavor. That’s not all, the nutritional content becomes diminished as well.
Proper Storage
Adhering to the right storage methods makes them even healthier for consumption. Leaving them exposed is only a recipe for disaster. Get a clean and airtight container and store them in the refrigerator.
This will keep them fresh for up to 7 days while storing in the freezer will last them for about 3 months. You may want to consider either of these storage methods the next time you’re going on a long trip.
What’s more, sun-drying them is an option that keeps your lima beans fresh for close to a whole year.
Other Benefits
Isn’t it great that lima beans are so beneficial to us in so many ways? Aside from the ones mentioned earlier, there are more that touch on your wallet and other areas.
Lima beans are not at all strenuous on your budget. On the contrary, they save you more dollars than you may have calculated. After touching on the fact that over-consuming them is disastrous, your wallet can rest easy.
Individuals of any age are free to include them in their diet. Guess what? This means you can include them in the diet of your toddler who is in the weaning period. Just be careful not to overfeed them.
Modern Recipes
The taste of Lima Beans can’t always be appealing to just about anyone that tries them out. This shouldn’t be an obstacle that prevents us from enjoying all the amazing benefits they have.
There are plenty of sumptuous recipes online that you could try out. You could also get in touch with your inner explorer and come up with your very own Lima beans dishes.
Your family recipes could come in handy at a time like this.
Explore their Uniqueness
Lima beans are an exceptional form of protein because they are both legumes and vegetables. How unique is that? If you want to have them for breakfast, you could make some plant-based tacos the previous evening.
This move saves you from the ill-advised notion that says skipping breakfast is the quickest way to get to work early. You’ll only have to microwave them and have them with some fruit drink or coffee.
Better still, pair Lima beans up with some rice and get your energy levels pumped up for the long day ahead. With time, all the options available will make Lima beans one of your favorite meals.
Timely Gift for Vegetarians
Let’s not forget the unique group of people that don’t eat meat at all. Vegetarians are not missing anything at all especially since Lima beans are a total package. They are a healthier and more nutritious option as compared to meat.
The likes of Iron and Zinc make up for all the nutrients they can’t get in meat. What’s more, they are easy to prepare and take less time to cook. It works especially for those who are keen on their intake of protein.
With COVID-19 on the loose, it’s advisable to boost your immune system with a balanced diet. You’ll beat whatever disease comes your way. Even when Covid-19 is passed; another virus could just be around the corner.
Check with your Nutritionist
Unfortunately, Lima beans don’t go down too well with some of us. Allergies always have their way of enabling you to keep your options open. A visit to your trusted nutritionist helps you keep your intake of protein balanced.
Moreso, if you’re trying them out for the first time in your life. If you’re going to keep off Lima beans, then you need a viable option with almost the same nutritional content. The likes of green peas are not such a bad idea.
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